In a new study, LendingTree reported that single women own a significantly higher share of homes in the U.S. than single men—despite the fact that women often earn less than males. While single women’ homeownership rates vary throughout the country’s 50 largest metropolitan regions, they tend to range between 30% and 40% and are lower than those of single dads.
Metros with the Highest Homeownership Rates Among Single Moms:
No. 1: Minneapolis
- Total households occupied by single moms: 75,685
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 37,265
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 49.24%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $45,666
No. 2: Salt Lake City
- Total households occupied by single moms: 24,938
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 11,424
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 45.81%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $50,856
No. 3: Denver
- Total households occupied by single moms: 53,501
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 24,365
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 45.54%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $51,806
Key Findings:
- Across the nation’s 50 largest metros, 4.23 million households are occupied by single mothers and their children younger than 18. Of those households, 1.45 million are owner-occupied. That means the homeownership rate among single moms is about 34%.
- Comparatively, only 1.53 million households are occupied by single fathers and their under-18 children. However, the homeownership rate among this group is higher at about 49%. In other words, while there are fewer single-dad homeowners than single-mom homeowners, single dads are proportionally more likely to own their houses than single moms.
- Homeownership rates are highest among single mothers in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Denver. The homeownership rate for single moms in these metros averages 46.86%. Conversely, homeownership rates among single moms are lowest in Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., and New York, averaging 24.10%. Various factors — including income, home prices, job opportunities and child care costs—can influence single-mother homeownership rates.
- New York, Chicago and Philadelphia have the most single-mom homeowners. 260,138 single mothers across these metros live in owner-occupied homes. That’s 229,417 more than the number of single-mom homeowners in San Jose, Calif., Birmingham, Ala. and Salt Lake City, where the fewest live.
- Incomes for single-mom households are highest in San Jose, Calif., San Francisco and Seattle. The median incomes for households headed by single moms in these metros are $67,608, $61,387, and $56,688, respectively. In contrast, median incomes for single-mom households are lowest in Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio, at $30,707, $31,759 and $32,588, respectively.
Metros with the Lowest Homeownership Rates Among Single Moms:
No. 1: Los Angeles
- Total households occupied by single moms: 254,950
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 57,821
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 22.68%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $42,882
No. 2: Memphis, Tenn.
- Total households occupied by single moms: 54,714
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 13,315
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 24.34%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $33,148
No. 3: New York
- Total households occupied by single moms: 431,709
- Total households owned and occupied by single moms: 109,200
- Homeownership rate among single moms: 25.29%
- Median household income for single-mom households: $41,415
To read the full report, including more data, charts, and methodology, click here.
